Covering a total area of 9.6 million square
kilometres, China is the fourth largest country on earth, sharing its land
borders with India, North Korea, Russia, Nepal, Pakistan and others. In
addition, it has the biggest population in the world, with more than 1.3
billion residents, which is over four times more than the United States.
Although the Chinese economy has traditionally focused on agriculture
and trade, the country has emerged as a rising international powerhouse, with
fast-paced growth in the manufacturing, information technology, automotive and
finance industries. What’s more, tourism has become a major contributor to the
GDP, fuelled by China’s world-famous attractions, stunning landscapes,
mouth-watering food and hospitable culture. In total, around 55.7 million
people visit the country from across the world each year.